Chapter 38

Naturally, Danwooseong arrived first.

He hadn’t gone at full speed. He’d only put enough distance between them to ensure the two were keeping up.

Shortly after, Baek Han-gyeong, his face pale, and the Young Master of Chupungnakyeop, who looked somewhat better, arrived almost simultaneously.

Baek Han-kyung’s legs were trembling and his breath was ragged, yet he still wondered how the match had ended.

Dan Woo-sung stood with his arms crossed, staring intently at the two of them, prompting Baek Han-kyung to ask with a flushed expression.

“Your Highness, who won? I think I won by a narrow margin.”

Chu Pungnakyeop, the young master, looked straight at Dan Wooseong as if demanding a direct answer.

“Hey, Martial Alliance member. Are your eyes crooked? Anyone could see I got here first.”

Dan Woosung, acting as referee, addressed the two.

“What difference does that make?”

“······.”

“I won anyway. If you want to settle this, run all the way over there and back. Then we’ll have a proper contest. Care to take me up on that, you two?”

The young master of Chupungnakyeop cleared his throat and replied.

“You two go ahead. I’ll enter later with my household. I plan to stay at an inn outside anyway. Let’s just call it a draw.”

Baek Han-gyeong turned and asked.

“Autumn Wind… no, I am Baek Han-gyeong of the Martial Arts Alliance. Let us properly exchange names. I apologize again for my earlier slip of the tongue.”

Chu Feng, the young master, lowered his fan and adopted a formal stance before introducing himself.

“My name is Hwa Eun-wol. You’ve likely never heard of this country bumpkin. I look forward to working with you.”

Though he introduced himself as a country bumpkin, Hwa Eun-wol’s family was the Hwa Clan. It was a martial family rumored to have more hidden secrets than were known.

Baek Han-gyeong replied.

“So you’re the young master of the Hua Clan. My apologies for not recognizing you.”

Hua Yinyue looked at Dan Wuxing intently and said.

“Not at all… Might the gentleman here be the young master of the Eunha Trading Company who beat up that Gu Yangsheng family head?”

Dan Woosung also took a bow.

“Pleased to meet you, Young Master Hua.”

Hua Eun-wol said, examining Dan Woo-seong.

“So the rumor that the Gu family head lost one-on-one was true after all. We’ll meet again soon enough.”

Still, Hua Yingjie didn’t seem to harbor ill will toward Dan Wuxing. He merely appeared certain they would meet again at the Dragon Phoenix Grand Banquet.

Dan Woosung watched Hua Eun-gyeol walk away, fluttering her fan, and smiled faintly.

Baek Han-gyeong asked.

“Your Highness, why are you smiling?”

A small change on this stoic man’s face meant there was always a reason behind it.

Danwooseong replied.

“Are you participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Assembly on Baek Un-do Island?”

“Not exactly. I participated long ago. I no longer qualify.”

Danwooseong watched Hwaeun-gyeol’s steady gait and made his judgment once more.

“It seems you came in last for lightness skills. Let’s go inside.”

Baek Han-gyeong, looking startled, followed Dan Woo-sung as he entered the Martial Arts Alliance headquarters.

“We clearly arrived almost simultaneously. Why am I last?”

Master Hwa came to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Gathering. Master Gyeonggong raced side by side with Baek Moo-in the entire time. He could have won, but he deliberately matched his speed. He deliberately concealed his full strength. It’s a common occurrence. Winning such a lightness competition doesn’t yield any special elixir. He likely followed to gauge our abilities, assuming either I or Bai Wuyin would participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Gathering. He needed to lose to the lightness competition to avoid complacency. However, he ran alongside Bai Wuyin because he didn’t want to lose to him.”

Baek Han-gyeong turned back with a look of resentment. Hwa Eun-gyeol had already vanished.

“Is that so? You’re the sort who schemes over trivial matters.”

“What’s there to resent? Those preparing for a duel naturally conceal their strength—it’s only natural.”

Baek Han-gyeong glanced back at Dan Woo-seong.

‘But this man’s way of thinking…’

He didn’t seem like a newcomer to the martial world, but rather someone who’d been through the wringer. When Dan Woo-sung entered the Martial Alliance headquarters as if it were his own home, Baek Han-kyung followed suit.

After all, he had safely brought back the young master of the Eunha Trading Company, so the mission was considered successfully completed. Yet, rather than the joy of completing the mission, he felt that getting to know this man was more valuable than the mission itself.

After all, Baek Han-gyeong was a man who had set his sights on the martial world.

“Come this way. Let’s go to the conference hall.”

.

.

.

“Will the leader be coming?”

“I don’t know.”

A hearing of sorts was held in the grand assembly hall deep within the Martial Alliance headquarters. Yet the only thing Dan Woosung had to prove here was his martial prowess.

Therefore, as Dan Woo-sung arrived, masters from the executive committee and the elders’ council entered the meeting hall.

Dan Woo-sung sat at the end of the table, his expression unreadable.

At that moment, the conference room door burst open, and a cheerful-looking old man walked in. Everyone jumped to their feet.

“Lord Alliance Leader.”

Liu Zhenghong, the martial arts leader, was well over seventy years old, yet he appeared no older than fifty. He was a vigorous and cheerful old man with a youthful face and white hair.

Liu Zhenghong looked around and said.

“Where is Han Gyeong?”

“He brought the young master of the Eunha Trading Company but didn’t come inside here.”

“I see. Tell him I appreciate his efforts.”

“Yes, Lord Leader.”

Yoo Jeong-hong surveyed Danwoo Castle with his subordinates, speaking in a friendly tone.

“I’ll decide on Gu Yang-saeng. He was a figure in the Imperial Council, so that’s fitting. Everyone else, leave. The merchant guild’s young master, stay here. I’ll assess your strength and decide immediately. You’ll be busy, so get to work.”

Yoo Jeong-hong waved his hand dismissively.

Then the head of the executive branch and the senior members of the council rose and silently exited the meeting hall.

Dan Woo-sung remained alone. Yoo Jeong-hong gestured and said,

“Young junior, come closer.”

“Yes, Lord.”

Dan Woo-sung replied respectfully.

After all, Yoo Jeong-hong was a senior martial artist even during the King of Power era. He enjoyed fame and respect second only to the Heavenly Trio. Moreover, it was this man’s achievement to bring the Heavenly Trio back into the martial world, lead them into battle against the Demon Path, and command the entire righteous faction.

He is a man worthy of respect.

He was a seasoned veteran and master, yet also a controversial figure revered by the white path. His controversy stemmed from nothing else but his eccentric personality.

He didn’t even attach titles like “Emperor” or “Divine” to his aliases.

He was simply called the Sword Hero, or the Great Hero, a title often used since his youth, which best represented Yoo Jeong-hong.

Of course, nowadays, wherever the term ‘leader’ was used, it referred to Yoo Jeong-hong, making him a man who hardly needed a nickname.

Yu Zhenghong grinned and said.

“I am Yoo Jeong-hong.”

Dan Wuseng felt a pang of bitterness as he revealed his own name.

“I am Jin-eon of the Eunha Trading Guild.”

“What a poorly chosen name. For such a domineering man to bear the name Jin-eon. It’s a name suited for a scholar, you know.”

Danwooseong replied with a stiff expression.

“Yes, it’s just a name.”

Dan Wooseong stared intently at Yoo Jeonghong. It had been a long time since he’d seen his senior master. His face hadn’t changed much, but the wrinkles had deepened considerably.

As Dan Wooseong stared at him, Yoo Jeonghong smiled.

“You’ve got quite the stony expression yourself. Living in the martial world, I often meet friends like you. Actually, I find juniors like you more comfortable—there’s no difference between your exterior and interior.”

Only then did Dan Woo-sung relax his expression a little.

Yoo Jeong-hong pointed at his expression with his finger and said in a relaxed tone.

“You look better when you smile.”

He must have been tense, knowing this was a man who could only be faced by someone possessing the full might of a martial king. Unbeaten warriors in the martial world were rare, and Yoo Jeong-hong was one of them.

Yoo Jeong-hong said.

“You’ve been through a lot because of Gu Yang-saeng. Not killing him and entrusting him to the Emperor’s Association was handled with considerable patience. You endured well. What do you think I would have done?”

Dan Woosung replied as he knew.

“You would have cut off Gu Yang-saeng’s arm first.”

Yoo Jeong-hong laughed loudly and shamelessly.

“That’s a tactic for dealing with Sima the Heretic. You can’t do that to Gu Yangsheng. If you cut off Sima the Heretic’s arm, he’d just crawl back to his comrades like a cockroach. If you tracked him, you’d find a place swarming with Sima the Heretic. Why would I deliberately cut off just his arm and leave myself open to trouble later? Do you think I’m a good person? Not at all.”

His words carried his characteristic stubbornness and venom. Yu Zhenghong had indeed lived a life of extreme violence.

Yu Jeong-hong, who had been staring blankly at Danwooseong, spoke.

“Gu Yangsheng must be locked in the dungeon. The decision is final. Ah, and you should take a few days off. The Dragon-Phoenix Grand Banquet will be held soon.”

Yu Jeong-hong’s tone lowered.

“This shouldn’t be revealed prematurely, but the championship prize is the Century-Purified Ginseng. It was donated by the Ami Sect. While it enhances internal energy, it’s also a miraculous elixir that greatly increases resistance to poison. Why would I offer this?”

“Because you, Lord Alliance Leader, are already immune to all poisons.”

“Well, that’s about right. Anyway, for the late-stage cultivators, it’s a more crucial elixir than building up their inner strength. Truth be told, those of us at our age don’t need to get any stronger. Time will soon take us anyway. It’s the young ones like you who need to grow strong quickly. Only then can we rest easy underground when the big events unfold. Will you participate?”

Dan Woo-seong nodded.

“I will.”

Yoo Jeong-hong asked.

“What about your training? Any bottlenecks?”

“Not yet.”

Yoo Jeong-hong grinned, leaned back in his chair, and stared intently at Dan Woo-sung.

“Seeing you reminds me of that troublemaking junior.”

Dan Woo-sung didn’t ask who that was. No, he hoped Yoo Jeong-hong would stop talking.

Yoo Jeong-hong brought up this topic.

“It reminds me of that junior, Kwon Wang. Did you happen to learn a few moves from him?”

Dan Woo-sung cleared his throat.

“How on earth did you know that?”

“Why are you getting angry?”

“Ah, I’m just genuinely curious.”

Yoo Jeong-hong nodded and answered.

“You write, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you handle the Brain?”

It seemed he had already figured it out, so denying it was pointless.

“That’s correct.”

The major schools handling the Brain Qi in the martial arts world are the Seo Moon, Namgung, Baekri, and Oryo. Four places. Of course, there might be others I don’t know about. Thunder Qi is a martial art often practiced in the demonic path as well. Anyway, the Xumen turned to swordsmanship, and the Nangong to broadswords. It was a conclusion reached because disputes over the Elixir grew fierce among brothers and successors. Baekri suffered several major failures. After the previous head master fell into demonic possession while practicing the technique, the later generations were too scared to continue. The line was severed. That leaves the Woryo Gate (悟了門), the sole inheritor of the Kwonwang’s single-lineage transmission. It’s hardly a proper sect. It was closer to a mysterious force, like the sword immortals, that sought disciples to pass down the teachings.”

Dan Wooseong nodded.

Truthfully, finding someone who knew the martial world better than the Martial Alliance leader was no easy task.

Yu Jeong-hong continued.

Those who master the Thunder Current martial arts all transform into a domineering presence. Their eyebrows, gaze, posture, tone, and very aura come to resemble thunder itself. Their personalities change too. It becomes increasingly difficult to grow close to them; they become isolated, independent, and solitary. That’s why I have no special memories with the Martial King either. He sought to become a thunderbolt capable of tearing the heavens apart alone… What person could possibly share friendship with a man intent on ripping the sky? Whether senior or junior, it was fortunate if they didn’t get slapped.”

With his hands clasped behind his back, Dan Woo-sung listened to the leader’s words before letting out a long sigh and slightly lowering his head.

Dan Wooseong was utterly helpless against his senior’s insight. In any case, he had to utter words containing some truth. There was no other choice now.

Dan Woo-sung declared to the world.

“I am the heir to the Kwonwang.”

Yoo Jeong-hong smiled.

“So it was meant to be.”

“Yes.”

Yes, the connection was made. This was the contradictory truth.

ⓒ Yoo Jin-seong

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